In this episode Allie gives Sam and Neil a topic to sink their teeth into as we discuss all things meaty. We chat about fake birds, meat jellies and learn why certain molecules make savoury food so irresistibly scrumptious.

Useful Links and things mentioned in the episode

Neil cooks Jane Grigson’s recipe for Guards of Honour

Eating Ortolans - Gastro Obscura

Neil’s woodcock recipe

Neil’s snipe recipe

Alouette, Gentile Alouette

Neil’s recipe for Seftons (savoury custards)

Neil cooks Jane Grigson’s recipe for Hindle Wakes

Jurassic Park Lysine Scene

What Should We Call Frankenmeat? The Cut by Edith Zimmerman (2018)

Carry on Screaming Reel (sadly this doesn’t show the ‘victims’ getting encased in wax but it gives you an idea)

Han Solo frozen in Carbonite

Suggested Reading

The Inferno (1265-1321), by Dante Alighieri

Forme of Cury (c.1380)

Fool’s Gold: A History of British Saffron (2023) by Sam Bilton

‘The Sit Down’ in Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (2010) for the description of eating Ortolans

A Gothic Cookbook (2024) by Ella Buchan and Dr Alessandra Pino

Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most influential Housekeeper (2023) Neil Buttery

The Constance Spry Cookery Book (1956) by Rosemary Hume and Constance Spry

Mrs Beeton and Mrs Marshall (2023) by Emma Kay

Rebecca (1938) by Daphne du Maurier

The Accomplisht Cook (1660) by Robert May

McGee on Food and Cooking: An Encyclopedia of Kitchen Science, History and Culture (2004) by Harold McGee

Sweetness and Power (1986) by Sidney Mintz

The Experienced English Housekeeper, 1784 edition, by Elizabeth Raffald 

Le viandier de Taillevent (c. 1300 in French. You see some of the recipes translated into English on this website)

You can follow the A is for Apple Podcast on Instagram and X (Twitter).

Sam Bilton also hosts the Comfortably Hungry Podcast and is the author of First Catch Your Gingerbread, Fool’s Gold: A History of British Saffron and The Philosophy of Chocolate. You can find her on Instagram and X.

Dr Neil Buttery also hosts the British Food History Podcast and is the author of A Dark History of Sugar and Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald Britain’s Most Influential Housekeeper. You can find him on Instagram and X.

Dr Allie Pino hosts the Fear Feasts Podcast with Vanessa Baca and is the co-author of A Gothic Cookbook. You can find her on Instagram and X.